Refrigerator car doorlock



3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 21, 1935. A. WASBERG REFRIGERATOR GAR DOORLOCKFiled Au 7, 1953 ATTOEHEY May 21, 1935. A. WASBERG REFRIGERATOR CARDOORLOCK Filed Aug. 7, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IHVENTOE Ax EL. WAs BEESATTORNEY Patented May. 21,1935

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATOR can nooRLocK Axel Wasberg,Chicago, 111., asslgnor to Allen E.

" Ostrande'r, Larchmont, N. Y.

This invention relates generally to operating and locking mechanism fordoors, and more particularly to operating and locking mechanism forrefrigerator car doors. I

It has been found that in refrigerator cars andother similar structuresthe doors often freeze in their closed positions. The opening of frozendoors is quite a problem for the ordinary laborer and he does not applyscientific methods. Instead he hammers them with anything available,jams crowbars and the like in at the sides, with the result that when hehas gained entry the doors are mutiliated'an'd damaged. In manyinstances the doors haveto be repaired before they are ready for furtherservice.' In time this involves a large expenditure for repairs.

' An object of the invention is to provide means for e rerting greatoperating pressures in either direction on doors to shut or open them.

Another object of the invention is to provide for utilizing oneactuating lever to exert pressure on either door of a double doorinstallation in either direction to shut or open them.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of theinventiomreference may be'had to the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which 1 Figure 1is a view in side elevation of the doors of a refrigerator car providedwith an operating and locking mechanism constructed in accordance withthis invention. I

Figure 2 is a view in section taken along the line 2--2 of Figure 1showing the operating mechanism in top plan after it has been actuatedto close the doors. I

Figure 3 is a view in section taken along the line 33 of Figure 1showing the operating mechanism in top plan after it has been actuatedto open one door.

Figure 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4' of Figure 1 showing anenlarged plan of the operating mechanism; and

Figure 5 is a view taken along the line 55 of Figure 4 showing anenlarged side elevation of the locking mechanism. I

Referring to the drawings, and Figure 1 in particular, the wall of arefrigerator car shown generally at I0 is provided with double doors IIand I2 hinged in a frame I3. As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, theedges of the doors are inclined at an angle to the wallof the car whenin their closed positions to give a wedging action in-closing them toforce all vertical meeting surfaces into tight engagement.

The operating and locking mechanism comprises a shaft I 4 rotatablymounted in straps I5 which are attached to the door ll near the edge.

The shaft I4 may be hollow, but if not, openings are provided in itsends for receiving latches I 6.

The general shape of the latchesIG. is that of the well-known automobilecrank. In fabricating a latch I6 one end portion is shaped to fit intothe openings provided in the ends of the shaft Il while the other endportion is made arcuate in 1 section to provide an operating face forengaging the working faces of other elements of the mech anism to bedescribed hereinafter. I In the embodiment of the invention illustrated,the latches are pinned to the shaft. When the latches I6 are mounted,the resulting structure is a shaft with two cranks, one at each end.

Keepers I1 are mounted above and below the doors in alignment with theshaft I4. The keepers are dome-shaped and are provided with notches cutin the sides, as shown at I8, to receive the latches I6. Each keeper'isprovided with two oppositely disposed cam surfaces I9 and 20, as bestillustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4, shaped to coact with the operatingfaces of the latches I6 to swing the door II about the axis of itshinges to its final closed position or initially with draw it from itsclosed position respectively.

In order to oscillate the shaft I4 to actuate the latches I6, anarticulated lever shown generally at 2| is provided. The lever comprisesa'clevis 22 pinned to the shaft I4 at a convenient height from thebottom to facilitate operation, and a handle 23 pivdtally mounted in theclevis as shown at 24.

As will be observed, the clevis 22 is short and in this embodiment ofthe'invention extends only a short distance beyond the edge of the doorcarrying the actuating shaft I4. Further, when the door I I stands openby rotating the shaft I4 the clevis 22 may be swung to a position where40 it stands substantially normal to the plane of the door and whereboth the clevis and handle 23 are clear of the edge of the door.

The length of the handle will depend on the lever action that it isdesired to obtain. Since the lever is articulated, the handle when notin use may be rotated about its pivot point to a position extendingparallel to the edge of the door where it is out of the way.

In order to utilize the lever 2I to operate the door I2, a'keeper 25 ismounted on the door I2 jus above the clevis 22. This keeper, 25 isdomeshaperl and provided with oppositely disposed cam faces 26 and 21.As best shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the keeper is open at the side nextthe door ll.

A boss 28' is provided on the handle 23 and extends upwardly to engagein the keeper 25. The oppositely disposed cam faces 26 and 21 are partof the casting 25 and form a packet which is deep enough to permit thehandle 23 to be swung into a position parallel to the doors II and I2.

On arm 29, Figure 1, is provided to lock the articulated lever 2| in aposition parallel to the plane of the doors II and I2, as shown inFigure 2. This arm is pivotally mounted at 30 in a bracket carried bythe keeper 25.

In mounting the arm 29 it is spaced far enough from the door to permitit to swing outside of the handle 23 of the articulated lever 2 I. Akeeper 3| is provided on the door l2 and disposed below the handle '23when the latter stands in its and 29 respectively for-receiving a lockorsea],

not shown, since such devices are in common use. 3 i I Successfuloperating mechanisms have been fabricated by casting all the elementswith the exception of the shaft H.

In closing the doors H and I2 they are swung inwardly engaging thelatches 16 in the keepers H. The handle 23 is raised to its horizontalposition and force applied to press the doors inwardly. When the lever2| is oscillated about its axis, the outer ends of the latches l6 engagethe cam faces IQ of the keeper l1 and as they ride outwardly on thesecam faces pressure is applied to the door forcing it home. At the sametime the boss 28 enters the keeper 25 and rides on the cam face 21forcing the door l2 home. Since the edges of the doors are inclined tothe plane of the car wall, a wedging action takes place forcing allthevertical meeting edges of the doors and frame into tight engagement.1

When the, doors have been tightly closed the handle 29 is swungdownwardly to engage in the keeper 3|. A lock or seal may now be engagedin the eyes 32 and 33 provided in the members 23 and 29 respectively.

Assuming that it is desired to open the doors, then the lock or seal isremoved and the handle 29 swung to a horizontal position. A pull isexerted on the lever 2| and the boss 28 engages the cam face 26 of thekeeper 25 and a pull is exerted on door l2 to withdraw it from itsclosed position. If the door is frozen and diflicult to open, greatpressure may be applied by means of the lever 2| which is fulcrumed onthe door ll.

After the door l2 has been partially opened, the latches it areoscillated into engagement with the cam faces 20 and pressure may beapplied to' the door II to release it if it is frozen or otherwise heldin its closed position.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that the present construction is one in which the lever 2|,fulcrumed on door II is operable in one direction to actuate the shaftl4 whereby door II is forced to full closed position simultaneously withthe forcing of door |2 to fully closed position by reason of thecooperation of said lever and more specifically the lug 28 thereon withthe keeper mounted on said door i2. It will also be apparent thatreversal of actuation of the lever will eff ct penand keeper beingdisposed to cooperate to apply pressure to the door on which said latchis carried, means for actuating the latch including a shaft journalledon said door for rotation on a vertical axis, a keeper provided on theother door and disposed to be engaged by the actuating means as thefirst door is being closed to exert a continued pressure on the seconddoor to effect its full closure.

2. Operating and locking mechanism for double doors hinged in a framecomprising, in combination, a keeper carried by the frame, a latchcarried by one door for engaging the keeper, the latch and keeper beingdisposed to function in the manner of a-cam when actuated to operate thedoor, a lever for actuating the latch pivotally supported by said doorfor swinging movement in a horizontal plane, a cam provided on the otherdoor and disposed to be engaged by the actuating lever as the first dooris being closed to exert a continued closing pressure on the second doorto effect simultaneous complete closing of the doors, and means forlocking thelever in a predeters mined position to retain the doorsclosed.

3. In operating mechanism for double doors first named door in eitherdirection to shut or open it, and means carried by the adjacent doorcooperative with the lever for exerting pressure on said other door ineither direction to shut or open it.

4. In an operating mechanism for double doors hinged in a frame, keepersmounted on the frame above and below one of the doors and each havingoppositely disposed cam faces, a shaft pivotally mounted on one door,latches carried by the shaft and eccentrically mounted relative to thecenter of the shaft for cooperating with the cam faces of the keepers toexert pressure on the door to operate it, a lever for oscillating theshaft to actuate the latches, a keeper having oppositely disposed camfaces carried by the other door, a

boss provided on the lever for cooperating with the cam faces of thekeeper can'ied by the door for exerting pressure on the said other doorin either direction to operate it.

5. In operating and locking mechanism for double doors hinged in aframe, a keeper having oppositely disposed cam faces carried by theframe above one of the doors, a shaft pivotally mounted on said door, a,latch carried by the shaft and eccentrically mounted relative to thecenter of the shaft for cooperating with the cam faces of the keeper toexert pressure on the door to close or open it, a lever for oscillatingthe shaft to actuate the latch, said lever overlying the adjacent doorwhen the doors are in fully closed actuating lever in a predeterminedposition to retain the doors in their closed position.

6. In an operating and locking mechanism for double doors hinged in aframe, in combination, a keeper carried by the frame above one of thedoors, the keeper having oppositely disposed cam faces, a rotatablymounted shaft carried by said door, a latch disposed to cooperate withthe opp'ositely disposed cam faces of the keeper eccentrically mountedon the shaft, an articulated lever for oscillating the shaft to actuatethe latch to exert pressure on the door in either direction to shut oropen it, a keeper provided on the adjacent door, the keeper havingoppositely disposed cam faces, a boss provided on the articulated leverintermediate the ends thereof cooperative with the keeper on theadjacent door for exerting pressure in either direction on said adjacentdoor to shut or open it when the lever is actuated, and means forlocking the lever in a predetermined position to retain the doors intheir closed positions.

,7. Operating mechanism for double doors comprising cammed keeperssecured above and below said doors, a rotatable shaft carried by one ofthe doors, a .cammed keeper secured to the adjacent door, and means onsaid shaft engageable simultaneously with all of said keepers and soformed as to apply pressure to both doors to simultaneously effect fullclosure thereof.

8. Operating mechanism for double doors comprising camrned keeperssecured above and below said doors, a rotatable shaft carried by one ofthe doors,a cammed keeper secured to the adjacent door, a lever foractuating said shaft, and means on the shaft and lever engageablesimultaneously with all of said keepers and so formed as to effectsimultaneous closing of the doors during movement of the shaft and leverin one direction and sequential opening movement of the doors duringmovement of the shaft and lever in the opposite direction.

9. Operating mechanism for double doors comprising, in combination, ashaft rotatably doors.

mounted on one of the doors, cammed keepers above and below said doorand on the adjacent door, latch elements on the shaft for engaging thekeepers above and below the first named door,

said adjacent door simultaneously with closing- ,pressure applied to thefirst named door and to exert a pull on saidadjacent door to open thesame prior to application of opening pressure on the first named door.

10. Operating mechanism for double doors, comprising a shaft rotatablymountedon one of the doors, an operating lever on the shaft normallyoverlying the adjacent door, cammed keepers above and below the firstnamed door and on the adjacent door, and means on said shaft and on saidlever cooperable with said keepers and so formed as to simultaneouslyeffect full closure of and sequential opening of said 11. Operatingmechanism for double doors comprising a shaft mounted on one of thedoors, a cam shapedk'eeper above said door adapted to be engaged by saidshaft, a cam shaped keeper secured to the adjacent door, a leverconnected to the shaft and normally overlying the adjacent door andadapted to actuate the shaft into and out of engagement with the keeperabove the first named door whereby the door is started to and from fullyclosed position, and means on the lever adapted to engage the keeper onthe adjacent door during actuation of the shaft to start said adjacentdoor to and from fully closed position; the keepers, shaft and means onsaid lever being relatively so arranged that the doors are.

simultaneously moved to closed position and sequentially moved to openposition.

AXEL WASBERG.

